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Halloween Horror Nights 5 Review

The Blood Moon has unleashed terror at Universal Studios Singapore. Read the full review of Halloween Horror Nights 5 and discover this year’s uniquely Singaporean haunted houses and scare zones!

[ Cover Image: The Lady in Red, Hungry Ghosts scare zone ]

Note: This review is based on the experience from the Media Preview. Guest experience during event nights will vary due to crowd conditions and creative adjustments by the park. Reports on the guest experience (wait times, happenings, crowds, etc) will be posted on our Facebook page when available. HHN5 Special Features will be published separately throughout October.

Check back often! Feel free to like our page and share with your friends:

Special Thanks to Resorts World Sentosa for inviting Dejiki.com to the HHN5 Media Preview.

★ Rating System

Our rating scores three categories on a 5-star scale: The Story concept – how compelling and engaging the narrative is. Presentation is a combined score the production values for theming, including props, special effects and scare actors’ costuming and make-up. Scare Factor rates how scary each zone or house was, including scare actors’ performance.

If the attraction exceeds expectations, it would be awarded with bonus blood-red stars.

Scores last updated: 3 October with rating from Opening Weekend, as the attractions are adjusted after rehearsals.

Review: HHN5 Haunted Houses

Haunted Houses are enclosed scare experiences filled with special effects. This year, the park has produced three houses with a local twist. Powered by the darkness of the Blood Moon, the everyday sights have transformed into nightmares. After walking through this year’s haunted houses, I believe that the locals and regional tourists will love these haunts. They are so beautifully produced, and are totally exclusive to Singapore!

True Singapore Ghost Stories: The MRT

〜 This train will be delayed… indefinitely. 〜

Touted as this year’s headliner attraction, True Singapore Ghost Stories: The MRT is created in collaboration with enigmatic writer Russell Lee. You will step into Lee’s newest book, available exclusively at HHN5. The main story is about the ███████ station and the Bidadari Cemetery that was once there before it was exhumed for redevelopment.

The Blood Moon has awoken an ancient curse set by the village shaman Tok Naga Arang, causing the cemetery to emerge, wrecking the fictitious Bidadari MRT Station. This is an interesting haunted house, because the story comes alive as you walk through, and key scenes are presented to you with the help of a tunnel through time – and tunnels through… graves.

Lightning struck as we captured Tok Naga Arang’s ritual. *shivers*

The MRT train is painstakingly remade to look like the real thing. Look out for the doors and panels.

You would learn that missing the train or getting delayed isn’t that big of a deal as compared to this blood curse. Enjoy your last ride from Bidadari Station, and escape the Pontianak (a female ghost with very long hair) and other spirits ripped out of time, from the grave.

Rating Story: ★★★★★★Presentation: ★★★★★★Scare Factor: ★★★★★

Tip: So which station is it? Refer to the train map lah.Tip #2: It can get rather very windy in the tunnels, but keep your eyes peeled for pieces of the past scattered all over.

Siloso Gateway Block 50

〜 This is home, truly. 〜

Water contaminated with the ‘HHN-5’ virus has infected the residents of Siloso Gateway Block 50, turning them into flesh-eating zombies. As you try to make your way out, enjoy the privilege of visiting uniquely decorated homes that are themed to the four major ethnicities in Singapore: Chinese, Indian, Malay, and ‘Others’ – Eurasians perhaps. But there’s no time to stay and chat, as special forces have been brought in to evacuate those yet to be infected. DO NOT DRINK THE WATER, stay close and move, quickly!

The park has always constructed their most detailed haunted houses at Stage 28. HDB flats are commonplace in Singapore, but to reconstruct it realistically within a soundstage is an amazing feat. Siloso Gateway Block 50 opens with the estate drenched in constant rain. There is even a playground, void deck, mama shop (mini market) at the start.

After brief encounters with residents that are not so friendly, you find doors to one flat left open. Step in and say hello to the family.

These homes are filled with stuff, including the stereotypical things people tend to keep and display – basically images of home. Yes, in the Chinese home, expect a lot of such paintings and spring couplets. And every home has those plastic placemats. Everyone has them!

Rating Story: ★★★★★Presentation: ★★★★★★Scare Factor: ★★★★★★

Tip: Something smells.. nice. What’s cooking?Fun Fact: This is the only haunted house with air-conditioning.

Hell House

〜 This house is on fire… This house is on fire… 〜

In some Asian cultures, the afterlife isn’t that far off from the living world. The dead need resources to bide their time in the underworld, and they are venerated through burning of offerings. From hell bank notes, gold bars or even material goods and property, these paper craft offerings are sent to dead through combustion – paper burns, and hell is fiery after all.

You discover the Hell House while walking around the misty Hungry Ghosts village. The paper servants, brought to life with the Blood Moon’s eerie glow, were surprisingly welcoming. The owner of the house looked rather disturbed by her servants – what’s the story here, really?

This is not a house decorated with paper craft offerings inside. The design is what I would say, rather mischievous: The choice of materials, size and large-scale prints were devised to lend an unsettling illusion. One that this house feels like it was constructed the same way as those paper craft offerings, and that it was built to burn.

It gets very hot in Hell House, but don’t worry, as fire consumes paper quickly – your journey to hell will be over before you knew it. But can you make it back?

Rating Story: ★★★★★Presentation: ★★★★★★Scare Factor: ★★★★☆

Tip: After ducking under some lanterns, look up to learn about YOUR fate.

Tunnel People

〜 Only the worthy will ascend. 〜

The Tunnel People live in their underground fortress hidden behind a bridge at New York. What secrets could they be guarding, that could only be revealed with the rise of the Blood Moon? And even if you could find them at their Lair, would you be able to escape?

This is the first dark house at Halloween Horror Nights in Singapore. What that means is most of this maze-like house is barely lit. Imagine a hallway with only one tiny candle on the floor showing the way. You will need to feel your way around in the dark. But are you sure you want to touch things that you can’t see?

Inside the Fortress – image is enhanced. Actual house is much darker.

I’d urge you to walk through this house without any glow sticks, flashing headbands, or flashlights. Keep your phones away too. Immerse yourself in the darkness of the Fortress. You will find help along the way.

Some people can walk through entire haunted houses with their eyes closed, so this shouldn’t be a problem for them. You know who you are~

Tip: Try to split into small groups (3 or less)… and see who manages to escape first.Tip #2: There are ways to see better in the dark. Maybe it’s not a bad idea to wear shades in the queue so that your eyes can adjust to the darkness. Go google and read up more!

Review: HHN5 Scare Zones

The Invaders

〜 Surrender to the Horde. 〜

At The Invaders, you run in firefights between the UGMF and The Horde, an alien race that is invading Earth under the shadow of the lunar eclipse. The Invaders is a realm flush with colours; it felt like a video game.

For the past 4 years, the park has always staged its most complex scare zone in New York zone. This year, it doesn’t look like it, because The Invaders feels compact in New York. The street isn’t covered with props unlike last year, so it didn’t bring about the atmosphere of destruction. Instead, there are enough lights and lasers to rival an EDM festival. The aliens, surprisingly, were more friendly than the humans.

On the other hand, this year’s aliens are performed on stilts probably need more space to perform safely. This scare zone seems to have an all-male cast, at least for the UGMF soldiers.

There is still a spectacle here when the UGMF soldiers try to defeat the Horde. Remember to return to New York and catch the show. Here’s a teaser:

Rating Story: ★★★★☆Presentation: ★★★★★★Scare Factor: ★★☆☆☆

Fun Fact: The Horde comprises six types of aliens! Take photos with all of them!

ConTERMINATED

〜 PLEASE HELP US! 〜

Following last year’s successful ‘enclosed scare zone’ concept, ConTERMINATED is a special scare zone that feels like a haunted house. We move in one way, slowly, and we can’t stop walking until we get out.

Unlike Bogeyman (2014), ConTERMINATED is notably much brighter and less convoluted, so it might get people moving quite briskly. During the preview, it felt too short for the ‘quarantine’ experience to develop, and the story might also be confusing if you miss some scare actors.

This scare zone brings you into a secret colony set up by the government to contain the deformed and diseased, leaving them to fend for their dear lives. We’ve been thoroughly warned not to venture into Sector 5, but we can’t just leave the people inside to die, right?

Rating Story: ★★★☆☆Presentation: ★★★★☆Scare Factor: ★★★★☆

Hungry Ghosts

〜 You promised! 〜

Under the evil glow of the Blood Moon, the Hungry Ghosts have overturned a Chinese village, cursing the living to go through the rites and prayers of the Hungry Ghost Month for all eternity.

From altars to furnaces, effigies to street opera shows, Hungry Ghosts’ got them all to cover the rituals of the Seventh Month – an annual affair where the ghosts may roam free on Earth. So yes, there are many different types of ghosts from Chinese folklore set free. In return, many villagers are stuck in a trance.. or have they crossed over too?

The poor woman has been dusting the altar all her life.

Chinese Opera ‘shows’ will be held in Hungry Ghosts, for the ghosts’ amusement. We’d remind you to avoid the front row seats, as they are usually reserved for the dead. Also because we don’t know what the opera singer might do. Some of them have clearly lost their minds after being trapped by the spirits.

Beware of vengeful ghosts in the village – such as the hauntingly beautiful Lady in Red, who has waited for her lover for so long, she died.

This feels an alternate version of Forbidden Forest (2013) village – now with Chinese ghosts! It is more compact, but there are unique things to see at every spot. It might be very exciting to see these exotic stuff, but I’d advise not to stand too close to this coffin, though:

Do not panic when you hear loud dissonant clashes of symbals like those from a Chinese Opera. Just stay where you are and watch the ghosts depart in chaos.

Rating Story: ★★★★★Presentation: ★★★★★★Scare Factor: ★★★★★★

HHN5: What do you think?

It’s quite something this year isn’t it? Year after year, fans have asked for haunts from the Universal Studios parks overseas. The creative team instead worked towards original ideas, and it’s quite befitting to have so many local-themed concepts for Singapore’s Golden Jubilee celebration.

If you’ve attended HHN5, please share your thoughts in the comments!

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Halloween Horror Nights 5 – The Full Event Coverage

Check back throughout October for extended event coverage on Halloween Horror Nights 5! For updates, Like our page and share with your friends:

It does look a little brighter and less scary than HHN4, particularly The Invaders scare zone, and the replacement for last year’s dimly-lit, atmospheric Bogeyman.

The only ones which truly look abit unsettling are Hell House and Tunnel People. The Siloso Gateway HDB block looked like it had a lot of potential to scare people by inserting supernatural ghosts into HDB corridors and lifts, but they kind of squandered it by using an unrealistic zombie element instead. Ghosts would be a lot more creepy on the return journey home 😀

Yes totally agree. This year’s Halloween is a major drop in quality compared to last year where Jason Ramsburg did the the ultimate coolest HHN event that could even rival that of Hollywood & Orlando. Just look at last year’s HHN on YouTube.

This year it was done mostly by local polytechnics, nafa etc. Nothing against locals but come on! This is Universal Studios! People pay big bucks to see world class attractions & animatronics done by renowned experts around the world… and not some school project done by students.
No Jack’s Nightmare show, no outdoor visual show e.g. exorcism, a drop in outdoor visual props that create the Halloween atmosphere. Definitely gonna give this event a miss this year.

I agree, there is definitely quite a significant drop in quality this year. If this wasn’t USS, I would be impressed, but since it is, I definitely expect more. The Tunnel, in particular, felt like some B grade Horror House in an old school theme park. 🙁 Pretty crushed, since I’ve been looking forward to HNN for over a year.

Even the scare actors feel like amateurs this year. I went with three other girls and we are all scaredy cats. This year, we walked through the scare zones, utterly unfazed.

It’s still fun, I guess, but this year definitely doesn’t hold a candle to the past few HNNs. Now I’m apprehensive about next year. Sigh.

Couldn’t agree more with you! This year’s HHN is a complete let down. I’ve been attending HHN for 4 years now and this is the the first time I walked through the scarezones and houses unfazed.

But what really disappointed me was the ground crew. After the opening scaremony, they pushed, shove and shout at the guests to go towards Madgascar. I would understand if they blocked the road towards New York but they don’t need to push and shout at our faces. They constantly remind us not to touch the scare actors but they themselves touched and pushed us. This ruined the whole experience for me. Professionalism swallowed by the bloodmoon I guess.

But hey, I bought a Frequent Fear Pass. Might as well suck it up and just hope for a better HHN next year. Oh how I miss Mr Jason Ramsburg.

Yes Jason Ramsburg please come back! We miss you and your signature cap/hat and your “AMERICAN” HALLOWEEN event.
And the local theme is not working for me. Why can’t Singapore have “The Walking Dead”, “Purge” etc. It’s bad enough we don’t even have the Harry Potter world / ride or Minion ride so HHN was our only chance of experiencing the American hype of Halloween.
By the way, just because we are Singaporeans or locals, doesn’t mean we want our HHN to be local…I don’t even like Haw Par Villa nor do I like to watch Chinese Opera or Getai. And from most of the pictures on Instagram, the props and costumes look like they were loaned from Haw Par Villa or getai events.

Hi, I have purchase an admission ticket for tomorrow, Friday 2-Oct, but the express pass is out of stock.
Do you know whether the express ticket will be available onsite over the counter and the price for it? Thank you for a great review!

Honestly, does anyone know whether can we still buy express passes over the counter even tough the website shows it is sold out? Need it urgently,as long as someone has done it before, please do let me know. Thanks

I asked abt the haze plans, and received two different replies. Initially the CSO said that I would be able to reschedule to another date, as long as the price was the same. Then I asked if it would apply to the RIP tour, and was told that it would go on, rain or shine (or haze)!

Went on opening night (2 Oct) with my girl friends and I was pretty underwhelmed. I’ve gone for the past two HHNs (2013 and 2014), and each time, I was a quivering, quaking mess. This time, I was for the most part unfazed, and actually, pretty bored. The scare factor is definitely lacking and since there isn’t a scare zone at the Egypt area this year, the whole area just feels empty. I’ll be going again with a different bunch some time later this month (can’t back out since the tickets are already bought). I definitely hope that the scare actors have warmed up more by then because a lot of them felt a little half hearted in their acting.

I like how USS is trying localize HHNs with the overall settings as well as employing only local scare actors (no Caucasians this year, or at least I didn’t see any). My most memorable HHN experience was when my friends and I encountered this vampire scare actress who seemed to be walking off for a toilet break or a shift change. Despite the fact that she was out of her scare zone, she stayed perfectly in character. When she noticed that we were behind her, she paused, turned around to face us very slowly and dramatically. There was a slight pause before she swooped towards us while snarling and hissing. It was epic. On the other hand, we encountered some of the scare actors from the contaminated scare zone walking along. Rather than attempt to stay in character, they acted completely normally and even chatted with each other. Maybe I’m nitpicking, but it really ruined the immersion of the entire event.

The haunted houses also feel a little watered down compared to the previous years. There are much fewer unexpected jump scares and sometimes the lighting is bright enough so that the make up looks garish rather than realistically scary.

Hi! Thank you for writing this review. I’m going for hhn tomorrow night. Are there haunted houses or scare zones that could be dizziness inducing? I read somewhere that the MRT has a vertigo-inducing spinning room. Please let me know. Thank you!

These are some special effects used in HHN which may cause slight dizziness, disorientation, or flicker vertigo, etc for some guests who are sensitive to such conditions.

The MRT: Single scene with spinning tunnel (with psychedelic colours), strobe lighting and lightning simulation in many scenes.Tunnel People: Strobe lighting used in small areas. Pulsing lights in near-darkness conditions in some scenes.Siloso Gateway Block 50: Strobe lighting in one major scene, lightning simulation in a few scenes.Hell House: Strobe lighting in 2 scenes.The Invaders: Flashing lights and high-speed laser sweeps.

I feel that this year was quite good especially the haunted houses, they were so well done and amazing – Siloso Gateway Block 50 to be exact. This years scare zones weren’t that scary, no choice since so many people. Overall i would rate it 7/10

Just got back, literally the worst thing and most tiring event that I have paid money to go for. Only things possible to go on are the regular rides at universal. The queues for anything else starts at 1 hour. They really don’t cap the number of visitors.